Carbureter



No. 607,888. Patented July 26, I898. F. A. SMITH. CARBURETER.

(Application filefl Sept. 27, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheei (No Model.)

THE cams PETERS co, PHDTO-LITNOY, WASHINGTDN, D. c.

Patented July 26, I898.

r. A. SMITH.

No. 607,888. Patented July 26, I898.

F, A. SMITH.

CARBURETER.

(Application filed S ept. 27, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

( Model.)

it u THE; NORfil5 warms no" mom-uma. W5SHNGTON. D. c.

FRANK A. SMITH, OF

OCONTO, VISCONSIN.

.CARBURETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,888, dated July 26,1898. Application filed Se t mb r 27, 1897. $eria1No. 653,225. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRANK A. SMITH, of Oconto, in the county of Ocontoand State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement inApparatus for Making Gas, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part ofthis specification.

My invention has relation to apparatus for making gas; and it pertainsmore especially to that class of gas apparatus which is intended to beset up for use in dwellings, hotels, office-buildings, and the like inorder that gas may be manufactured andsupplied for a'particularpremises.

The primary object had in view is to secure a uniform pressureof the gasin the distributing gas-holder, this being accomplished by forcingliquid gas from the storage-tank to the generator and providing meansfor raising the initial gas-holder, so that a vacuum is formed in saidholder and the vapor gas thereby admitted therein from the generator,and also providing means for causing a subsequent descent of the initialgas-holder by gravity, so as to force the vapor gas into thedistributing gas-holder, ball-valve mechanism in the distributinggas-holder compelling uniform pressure of the gas.

An incidental object contemplated is the automatic regulation of thequantity of gas admitted to the distributing gas-holder.

A still further object resides in a novel and improved form of valvemechanism for the forcing-pump.

With the above and other incidental objects in View the inventionconsists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as here-'gasolene or its equivalent.

The numeral 8 in dicates a water tank, which is partially filled withwater, and9 the distributing gas-holder, consisting, as usual, of anopen-bottom cylinder inverted into the tank. The gas-holder is advisablyprovided at its lower end, upon its outer side, with rollers 10 10,which are adapted to bear against the inner side of the tank 8, and thetank 8 may also be provided at its upper end with similar rollers 11,which bear against the holder. These rollers serve to maintain theholder in true upright position and also facilitate the movement up anddown of said holder. EX- tending through the lower end of the tank 8 andup into the gas-holder 9 is a gas-distributing pipe 12. This pipe afterleaving the tank is extended so as to conduct the gas to the differentrooms or apartments to be lighted.

The numeral 13 indicates an initial gasholder which fits and is adaptedto reciprocate in a water-tank 14, partially filled with Water. Thelower end of this gas-holder has projecting outwardly and upwardlytherefrom an annular flange 15, which bears at its outer upper edgeagainst the inner side of the tank 14 and serves to maintain thegasholder in true position within the tank.

The cylinder of the pump mechanism is indicated by the numeral 16.Within this cylinder is a piston 17, which is provided with anupwardly-extending piston-rod 18, which rod extends through the top ofthe pump.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the gasholder 13 is an arm 19,,whichforms a fulcrum for a rocking lever 20, one end of said rocking leverbeing pivotally connected to the upper end of the piston-rod and theopposite end of said lever being pivotally connected to an arm 21. Thelower end of this arm 21 is pivotally connected to an upright 22.

An air-pipe 23 extends from the upper end of the pump-cylinder to theupper end of the gasolene-storage pipe 7. The passage of the air throughthis pipe is controlled by means of a flap-valve 24. Extending into theupper end of the pump-cylinder also is a short airintake pipe 25, whichhas connected to its outer end a coupling 26, forming a valve- Y chamberfor a flap-valve 2'7. Entering the lower end of the pump-cylinder is awaterinlet pipe 28, which leads from the city waterworks or from anysuitable source of watersupply, so as to conduct water under pressure tothe lower end of the pump-cylinder in the space beneath the pistonthereof. A water outlet or discharge pipe 29 leads from the lower end ofthe pump-cylinder. In each of these pipes is mounted a crank-shaft. Thecrankshaft of the inlet-pipe is designated by the numeral 30 and that ofthe outlet-pipe by the numeral 31. The cranks of these respective shaftsextend in opposite directions. Within the inlet-pipe is formed avalve-seat 32 and within the outlet-pipe a similar seat 33. Againstthese seats are adapted to work, respectively, inlet and outlet valves34 and 35. These valves are provided, respectively, with projectingstems 36 and 37, said stems being connected to the respective cranks ofthe shafts 30 and 31. To the outer exterior ends of the shafts 30 and 31are connected, respectively, crank-arms 38 and 39.

' Connected to and extending from the pumpcylinder, near the lower endthereof, is a bracket or arm 40. Pivoted on this bracket at the point 41is a tumbling-bob consisting of an upright arm 42, provided at its upperend with a weight 43 and an intersecting cross-arm 44. To one end of theintersecting arm is connected a rod 45. This rod extends upwardlyadesired distance above the top of the pump-cylinder and has mountedthereon, at desired distances apart,ad j ustable contactcollars 46 46'.Connected to the crank-arms 38 and 39, which are connected,respectively, to the outer ends of the shafts 30 and 31, are other rods47 47, said rods passing through opposite ends of the intersecting arm44. Rod 47 has mounted thereon above and below the end of theintersecting arm through which it passes adjustable contact-collars 4848, and

rod 47 has mounted thereon at correspond- 4psoints similar adjustablecontact-collars On the upper end of the piston-rod 18 is adjustablymounted an arm 49. The rod 45 passes freely through an opening in theend of this arm, said end through which the rod passes being locatedbetween the adjustable collars 46 and 46.

The numeral 50 indicates the gas-generator, consisting of a cylindricaltank, which is partially filled with gasolene. A pipe 51 extends fromthe lower end of the gasolene-storage tank 7 and connects with asupplemental chamber 52, projecting laterally from the gasgenerator.This pipe extends into said supplemental chamber and connects with anL-coupling 53. One end of the L-coupling is extended into the pipe 51for a short distance to form a valve-seat 54. Against this seat isadapted to work a valve 55, said valve provided with aninwardly-projecting spring-actuated valve-stem 55, which extends throughthe inner end of the L-coupling and connects with a short arm 56,extending from a lever 57. Said lever is pivoted to a projecting lug 58,and at the extremity of said lever is connected a float 59.

The numeral indicates an air-intake pipe which at its outer endcommunicates with the external atmosphere, and its lower end extendsinto the generator-tank and connects with a perforated ring or annulus61, which is located in the lower part of the tank and is adapted to besubmerged by the gasolene contained therein. To the outer upper end ofthe pipe 60 is connected a coupling 52, forming a valve-chamber for aflap-valve 63. From the top of the gas-generator projects a pipe 64,which pipe is extended to and into the water-tank 14 and thence upwardlyinto the gas-holder 13 for discharging into the space of the gas-holderabove the water-line.

The numeral indicates a pipe which connects the gas-holders 9 and 13.this pipe is located in the space of the gasholder 13 above thewater-line, and is then extended downwardly and outwardly through thewater-tank 14, thence to and through the water-tank 8,andits dischargingendis formed or provided with an elongated conical portion 66, the upperextremity of said conical discharging portion extending a distance intothe gas-holder 9 at a point just above the upper edge of the water-tank8. To the end of the pipe 65 which is located in the gas-holder 13 isconnected a coupling 67, which forms a valve-chamber for a flap-valve68. Extending through the upper end of this conical portion and intosaid conical portion for a desired distance is a rod 69. The lower endof this rod, within the conical portion, is formed with a ball-valve orenlargement 70. The rod is made adjustable by threading its upper endand passing said threaded end through an opening 71 in the top of thegas-holder 9. Nuts 72 72 engage the threads of the rod and are adaptedto be turned up against opposite sides of the top of the gas-holder, asclearly shown in Fig. 1, in order to adjust and hold the rod to adjustedposition. An opening 73 is provided in the top of the gas-holder 9,which opening is covered by means of a screwcap 74. By removing thisscrew-cap access can be readily obtained to the interior for the purposeof adjusting the inner nut 72.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: The liquidgasolene is free to enter the gas-generator 5O whenever the valve 55 isaway from its seat and there is a pressure on the surface of thegasolene within the gasolene-tank. The valve is moved away from its seatwhenever the float falls to such an extent by the lowering of the levelof the gasolene in the generator as to act on the rod of said valve andforce the valve away from its seat against the pressure of the coiledspring. As soon as the generator fills to a certain height the float isagain raised to such an extent as to force the valve against its seatand stop further inflow of the gasolene. It will be understood that thecoiled spring is not absolutely necessary, as the float itself would besufficient to force the valve to its seat.

In the open position of the water-inlet valve One end of IIO piston willcause the piston to rise, and withthis upward movement the lever will beacted upon. This lever through the connecting-arm 19 will raise thegas-holder 13. With the raising of said gas-holder a vacuum is formedtherein and a suction is created through the pipe 60, which opens theflapvalve 63 and draws the external air through said pipe into theannulus or ring 61 and thence out through the perforations of said ring.The air thus issuing through the perforations passes into and throughthe gasolene and is thoroughly impregnated therewith, becoming agaseousvapor,which enters and fills the space of the gas-holder 13 above thewaterline, the water forming a seal against the escape of the gas.ton-rod 18 has moved a certain distance upwardly the contact-arm 49thereof will contact with the contact-collar 46 and cause an up movementof the rod 45.

Figs. 1 and 3 show the arm'in contact with the collar 46. This rod willact on the end of the crossarm 44 and cause a tilting of the tumblingbobmechanism in a direction to the right of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the arm 42moved as far as a vertical position. The moment the upright arm 42 istilted past this vertical position the weight 43 completes the movementof the tumbling-bob. There is a slight lost motion in the cross-arm 44until the ends thereof contact with the contactcollars 48 and 48.Contact with the collar 48 will cause a turning of the crank-shaft 30,so as to close the inlet-valve 34, and contact with the collar 48 willcause a turning of the crank-shaft 31, so as to cause an opening of theoutlet-valve. The wateris now free to pass out of the pump-cylinder. Infurther explanation it will be understood that if gas is permitted topass out of the pipe 12 the gasholder 9 will necessarily descend so asto move the ball-valve 70 away from the contracted portion of theconical discharge 66. This will at once permit gas in the holder 13 toflow through the pipe into the gas-holder 9, so as to fill saidgas-holderwith a quantity of gas equal to that withdrawn therefrom, and

this operation takes place before any operation whatever ofthepump-valve mechanism occurs-that is to say, the gasholder 13 descendsa certain distance in order to force the gas into the holder 9, andafter said holder 13 has descended this certain distance the arm 49 willcontact with collar 46 and throw,

the tumbling-bob mechanism in a direction to open the inlet and closethe outlet valve,

let-valve is open and. the water beneath the piston flows out throughthe outlet-valve, the gas is turned off or is not being used, then theAfter the pispiston will remain at its adjusted position. It will alsobe understood that on the lowering of the gas-holder 13 the pressurethrough the pipe 64 causes a closing of the flap-valve 63, so that noescape can occur through the pipe 60, while at the same time theflap-valve 67 is opened and the gas forced into the pipe 65 anddischarged through the conical portion 66 of said pipe. It will beevident that whenever the piston 17 ascends the air in the cylinderabove said piston is forced through the pipe 23 into the tank '7, so asto act on the up per surface of the gasolene contained in said tank andforce saidgasolene through the pipe The rod 69 and the ball-valve 70 onthe lower end thereof are not only for the purpose of governing theamount of gas entering the holder 9, but are also for the purpose ofcontrolling the distance the gas-holder 9 can be raised vertically-thatis to say, they prevent said gas-holder from being raised to such avertical height as to bring its lower edge above the water-line andthereby allow the escape of the gas. The rod is so adjusted that afterthe gas-holder has been raised to such a height as to bring its loweredge nearly to the surface of the water the valve 70 will have beenraised sufliciently high to bring it into the contracted portion of theconical discharge and thereby close the piston against further flow ofthe gas into the gasholder.

From the above description it will be seen that in my improved apparatusthe gas is forced from the initial gas-holder 13 into the distributinggas-holder9 by means of the de scent by gravity of the gas-holder 13,While said gas-holder 13 is raised by means of a pump. The ball-valve 70necessarily produces an even feed of the gas into the holder 9, andconsequently an even pressure of the" In other forms of appagas in saidholder. ratuses the gas is forced from the'initial gasholder intotheterminal or distributing gas holder by means of pump mechanism, whichis found objectionable in that an uneven pressureis produced. Attentionisalso called to the fact that all of the parts of my apparatus need notnecessarily be located in one building, but that the gasolenestoragetank7 may be located at one place, the water-tank 8 and the gas'holder 9fitting therein at another place, while the water-tank 14 and gasholder13, together with the generator 15, may be located at still anotherpoint. In many forms of apparatuses all of the different portionsthereof are required to be located at one point. i

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an apparatus for making gas,thecombination, of initial and terminal gas-holders,

water-tanks in whichsaid holders are fitted and move, a source ofgas-supply, a pipe leading therefrom and into the initial gas-holder,and adapted to permit free flow therethrough into the initial gas-holderon the up move- ,ment of said initial gas-holder, a pipeextenddistributing gas-holder, the up movement of the initial gas-holderproducing a vacuum therein, and a suction from the source of supply intosaid holder, and the descent of said holder forcing the gas through thepipe leading to the terminal gas-holder.

2. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination, of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a source of gas-supply, a pipe leading therefrom and into theinitial gas-holder, and adapted to permit free fiow therethrough intothe initial gas-holder on the up movement of said initial gas-holder, apipe extendin g from the initial gas-holder to and into the terminalgas-holder to convey gas to the latter, a distributing-pipe leading fromthe terminal gas-holder, a pump, valve-controlled inlet and outlet pipesleading to and from the pump-cylinder, respectively, mechanism betweenthe projecting end of the piston-rod of the pump and the initialgas-holder, whereby, when the piston is raised, said gas-holder israised therewith, and when the gas-holder descends, the piston islowered therewith, and mechanism for controlling the valves of the inletand outlet pipes of the pump, whereby, after the piston of the pump hasmoved in one direction, a certain distance, the inletvalve will beclosed and the outlet-valve opened, and vice versa, when the piston ismoved acertain distance in the opposite direction, the outlet-valve willbe closed and the inlet-valve opened.

3. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination, of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a source of gas-supply, a pipe leading therefrom and into theinitial gas-holder, and adapted to permit free fiow therethrough intothe initial gas-holder on the up movement of said initial gas-holder, apipe extending from the initial gas-holder to and into the terminalgas-holder, a distributing-pipe leading from the terminal gas-holder, apump, valve-controlled inlet and outlet pipes leading to and from thepump-cylinder, respectively, mechanism between the projecting end of thepiston-rod of the pump and the initial gas-holder,whereby, when thepiston is raised said gas-holder is raised therewith, and when thegas-holder descends the piston is caused to descend therewith,tumbling-bob mechanism, and mechanism carried by the pistontheoutlet-valve, and vice versa, when the piston is moved a certaindistance in the opposite direction, the tumbling-bob is tilted in areverse direction to that in which it was first tilted, so as to closethe outlet-valve and open the inlet-valve.

4. The combination with the initial and terminal gas-holders of a pump,a contactarm extending from the projecting end of the piston-rod of thepump, inlet and outlet pipes leading to and from the pump-cylinder,respectively, valves for controlling said pipes, tumbling-bob mechanism,consisting of an arm pivoted to the pump-cylinder, said arm formedorprovided with an intersecting crossarm, a rod connected to one end ofthe crossarm, said rod passing freely through the contact-arm of thepiston-rod, collars on the rod located, respectively, above and belowthe contact-arm, rods passing freely through the ends of the cross-armof the tumbling-bob mechanism, collars mounted on the respective rodsabove and below the cross-arm, shafts extending into the inlet andoutlet pipes,and provided therein,respectively,with opposite cranks towhich the valve-rods of the inlet and outlet valves are connected, andcrank-arms at the outer ends of said shafts, to which crank-arms theends of the last-referred-to rods are connected.

5. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a source of gas-supply, a pipe leading therefrom and into theinitial gas-holder, and adapted to permit free flow therethrough intothe initial gas-holder on the up movement of said gas-holder, a pipeextending from the initial gas-holder to and into the terminalgas-holder, a distributing-pipe leading from the terminal gas-holder,pump mechanism, a rocking lever connected to the initial gas-holder, andalso pivotally connected at one end to the piston-rod of the pump, andhaving a pivot connection at its opposite end, connections whereby theupward pressure against the piston causes an up movement of the initialgas-holder, and means for causing the initial gas-holder to descend bygravity as the water is discharged beneath the piston and when gas istaken from the distributing gas-holder, the up movement of the initialgas-holder producing a vacuum therein, and a suction from the source ofsupply into said holder, and the descent of said holder forcing the gasthrough the pipe leading to the terminal gas-holder.

6. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination, of initial andterminal gas-holders,

water-tanks in which said holders are fitted and move, a source ofgas-supply, a generator, a pipe connecting the source of supply with thegenerator, a pipe leading from the generator to the initial gas-holder,and adapted to permit free flow therethrough into the initial gas-holderon the up movement of said initial gas-holder, a pipe extending fromtheinitial gas-holder to and into the terminal gasholder, adistributing-pipe leading from the terminal gas-holder, pump mechanism,mechanism between the pistonrod of the pump and the initial gas-holder,whereby the upward movement of the piston produces an up movement of theinitial gas-holder and for causing the initial gas-holder to descend bygravity as the water is discharged beneath the piston and when gas istaken from the distributing gas-holder, the up movement of the initialgas-holder producing a vacuum therein and a suction through the pipeleading from the generator into the initial gasholder, and the descentof said holder forcing the gas through the pipe leading to the terminalgas-holder.

7. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a source of gas-supply, a generator, a pipe leading from thesource of supply to and into the generator, a valve-controlled air-pipeleading from the external atmosphere to the generator, anothervalve-controlled pipe leading from the generator into the initialgas-holder, a pipe extending from the initial gas-holder to and into theterminal gas-holder to convey gas to the latter, a dis tributing-pipeleading from the terminal gasholder, pump mechanism, mechanism be tweenthe piston-rod of the pump and the initial gas-holder for causing an upmovement of the initial gas-holder as the piston rises, and means forcausing the initial gas-holder to descend by gravity, as the water isdischarged beneath the piston and when gas is taken from thedistributing gas-holder, the up movement of the initialgas-holderproducing a vacuum therein and a suction through the air-pipeleading into the generator and through the pipe leading from thegenerator to the initial gasholder, and a descent of said holder forcingthe gas through the pipe leading to the terminal gas-holder.

S. In an apparatus formaking gas, the combination of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a source of supply, a generator, a pipe leading from the source ofsupply to the generator, a valvecontrolled air-intake pipe leading fromthe external atmosphere to and into the generator, and formed orprovided at its end within the generator with a perforated discharge, avalve-controlled pipe leading from the generator into the initialgasholder, a pipe extending from the initial gasholder to and into theterminal gas-holder, a

distributingpipe leading from the terminal gas-holder, pump mechanism,mechanism between the piston-rod of the pump and the inipiston and whengas is taken from the distributing gas-holder, the up movement of theinitial gas-holder producing a vacuum therein and a suction through theair-intake pipe leading to the generator and through the pipe connectingthe generator with the initial gasholder, and the descent of said holderforcing the gas through the pipe leading to the terminal gas-holder.

9. The combination, in an apparatus for making gas, of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a fluid-containing storagetank, a generator, an air-pipe leadingto the generator and having an automatically-operated valve, a pipeleading from the storagetank and extending into the generator, said pipeformed or provided at its end within the generator with a valve-seat, avalve normally against the seat, a pivoted lever provided at one endwith a float-ball, and connected at its opposite end to the stem of thevalve, a pipe connection between the generator and the initialgas-holder, and means for causing an up movement of the initialgas-holder whereby a suction is created through said pipe connectionbetween. the generator and initial gas-holder.

10. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination, of initial andterminal gas-holders, water-tanks in which said holders are fitted andmove, a storage or supply tank, a pipe leading therefrom andcommunicating with the initial gas-holder, and adapted to permit freeflow therethrough into the initial gas-holder on the up movement of saidinitial gas-holder, a pipe extending from the initial gas-holder to andinto the terminal gas-holder, a distributing-pipe leading from theterminal gas-holder, pump mechanism, mechanism between the piston-rod ofthe pump and the initial gas holder, a valve controlled airinlet leadingto the pump-cylinder, a valvecontrolled inlet-pipe leading from thecylinder of the pump to the upper portion of the storage-tank, and meansfor causing an up movement of the initial gas-holder, and for causingthe initial gas-holder to descend by gravity as the water is dischargedbeneath the piston and when gas is taken from the distributinggas-holder, the up movement of the initial gas-holder producing a vacuumtherein, and a suction from the source of supply into said holder, andthe descent of said holder forcing the gas through the pipe leading tothe terminal gas-holder.

11. In an apparatus for making gas, the combination, of avertically-movable distributing gas-holder, a water-tank in'which thesame is inverted, a pipe leading from the gasably secured thereto, itsend Within the cone holder, a pipe extending through the Waterbeingformed or provided With a ball-valve. IO tank and up into thegas-holder, said pipe In testimony whereof I aflix my signature havingits discharge end formed into an e1onin presence of two Witnesses.

5 gated cone, and a rod extending downwardly FRANK A. SMITH.

from the top of the gas-holder and into the \Vitnesses: cone, said rodpassing through the top of the A. L. MORSELL,

gas-holder and having its upper end adjust- ANNA V. FAUST.

